Attorney General Demands Cancellation of Senior Police Appointment Amid Legal Dispute

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and other senior judicial officials have called on the Israel Police Commissioner to cancel the appointment of Senior Superintendent Udi Ronen as head of the incitement to terrorism unit. The appointment has sparked a heated debate among legal experts, including attorneys Michael Dvorin and Yehuda Shafir, who clashed during a radio interview on 103FM on August 9, 2026.

Dvorin criticized the appointment, noting that Ronen's unit was previously shut down by court order after controversy, and later absorbed into another department, effectively halting investigations into incitement to terrorism. He also linked this to the failure to implement the "Expulsion of Terror Supporters" law, which aims to deport families of terrorists but has been stalled due to difficulties in verifying support for terrorism among families. Dvorin revealed that Ronen prepared 130 deportation requests, but the Interior Ministry, following instructions from Attorney Gil Limon, halted all progress, undermining the law's enforcement.

Shafir responded critically, arguing that in a properly functioning state, the implementation of such a sensitive law would involve coordinated meetings between the Shin Bet, Interior Ministry, police, and investigation units to decide on enforcement. He highlighted opposition from the Shin Bet and the presence of serious issues with some deportation candidates. Dvorin countered by asserting that when the system is motivated, it can act swiftly.

This dispute underscores tensions within Israel's security and legal systems regarding the handling of terrorism-related incitement and the controversial policy of deporting families of terrorists. The Attorney General's demand to cancel Ronen's appointment reflects concerns about the effectiveness and legality of current enforcement approaches. The police commissioner has yet to respond to the call for cancellation.